In 1513, Ponce de Leon traveled to the New World in search of the mythical Fountain of Youth. Ironically, he landed in Florida which today is the home of the largest population of senior citizens in the United States. Eternal youth is a gift frequently sought in myth and legend, but does such a thing really exist? As with many things, science usually holds the answer, and Explorer de Leon would have been better served looking within another unexplored frontier, his very own DNA.
Very recently, a new set of ‘longevity genes’ have been identified that seem to be implicated in life extension. One of these genes, Sirtuin 1, is probably one that you have heard of, albeit in a round about way. I’m sure you have heard that a glass of red wine a day is good for you. A component of red wine, which has come to be known as Resveratrol, activates Sirtuin 1 leading to anti-aging effects as well as possible cardioprotective and anti-cancer benefits. More recently, studies on laboratory mice have revealed that caloric restriction also seems to activate this very same set of longevity genes. In other words, eat less and live longer. Those of you familiar with my philosophies will note that I do not advocate caloric restriction as a means to decrease body fat, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat a well balanced, lower calorie diet which consists of smaller meals throughout the day.
Lastly, researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine are undertaking unique gene expression studies using DNA and RNA from centenarians (people who live beyond the age of 100) in an effort to reveal the mysteries of life extension. These studies along with advances in molecular biology could one day lead to life expectancies that far exceed the averages of today.
